Crimson Tide fans discuss expectations for BCS National Championship Game

By Kim EatonStaff Writer

Published: Sunday, January 6, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, January 5, 2013 at 9:26 p.m.

TUSCALOOSA | Mike Howard was 9 years old the first time he saw the Crimson Tide take on the Fighting Irish. It was the 1973 Sugar Bowl, and while he does not remember much about the game, he does remember the play that has haunted Alabama fans for the past several decades.

With only a few minutes left on the clock and trailing by one point, Alabama had pinned Notre Dame deep in Irish territory with a punt, hoping to get the ball into field-goal range and win the game. On third and long, however, Notre Dame threw a long pass, giving the Fighting Irish a first down and allowing them to run out the clock. Alabama has since met Notre Dame on the field five times — the 1975 Orange Bowl, 1976, 1980, 1986 and 1987 — and has only pulled out one win. As the two teams prepare to do battle in Miami on Monday, fans in Tuscaloosa wait anxiously to see if this will be the time when Alabama comes out on top.

“Notre Dame is there for a reason,” said now 49-year-old Howard, of Tuscaloosa. “They've beat a lot of good teams this season, and they've had some close wins. It comes down to Alabama's coaching and the fact that we've been there before. If we play like we normally do, we should beat them.”

Northport resident Jeff Hogg, 31, said it will be a close game and one that he is excited to be attending. Both teams are well-coached, and the coaching philosophies are about the same — both defense-based strategies.

“It's going to come down to who wants it more,” Hogg said. “But I believe Alabama will pull out the victory.”

Many fans have been reliving the '73 game in their mind, secretly wondering if history will repeat itself. While not a superstitious person, 64-year-old Huntsville resident Tommy Ray said he worries about the “luck of the Irish.”

“You never take anything for granted with them. Sometimes the ball just tends to bounce the right way for them. It just falls in their hand,” he said. “Of course, the best way to take care of that is to take control of the ball.”

Alabama has a few things playing in its favor, Ray said, including the team's speed and versatility, as well as this being the third time in four years the Crimson Tide has played in the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game.

“If Alabama plays with the same intensity they did against LSU last year ... it would take a lot of mistakes on our part for Notre Dame to win,” he said. “If we run the ball the way I know we can, there's no way Notre Dame can come ahead.”

Debbie Turpin, 58, had one thing to say about her expectations for the game: “Roll Tide.”

“(Nick) Saban is a fantastic coach, and he's going to pull something out to win,” said the Tuscaloosa resident. “Everybody I see is pumped for this game. It's going to be even bigger than the Rose Bowl.”

In addition to “putting the ghosts to rest,” a win Monday night would mean back-to-back championships, an impressive feat in itself. Even some who are not Alabama fans are still hoping for an Alabama victory.

“I'm Mississippi State all the way,” said 27-year-old Starkville, Miss., resident Brittany Wright. “But I'm also for the SEC. If (an Alabama win) brings recognition to the SEC, I'm all for it.”

<p>TUSCALOOSA | Mike Howard was 9 years old the first time he saw the Crimson Tide take on the Fighting Irish. It was the 1973 Sugar Bowl, and while he does not remember much about the game, he does remember the play that has haunted Alabama fans for the past several decades. </p><p>With only a few minutes left on the clock and trailing by one point, Alabama had pinned Notre Dame deep in Irish territory with a punt, hoping to get the ball into field-goal range and win the game. On third and long, however, Notre Dame threw a long pass, giving the Fighting Irish a first down and allowing them to run out the clock. Alabama has since met Notre Dame on the field five times — the 1975 Orange Bowl, 1976, 1980, 1986 and 1987 — and has only pulled out one win. As the two teams prepare to do battle in Miami on Monday, fans in Tuscaloosa wait anxiously to see if this will be the time when Alabama comes out on top.</p><p>“Notre Dame is there for a reason,” said now 49-year-old Howard, of Tuscaloosa. “They've beat a lot of good teams this season, and they've had some close wins. It comes down to Alabama's coaching and the fact that we've been there before. If we play like we normally do, we should beat them.”</p><p>Northport resident Jeff Hogg, 31, said it will be a close game and one that he is excited to be attending. Both teams are well-coached, and the coaching philosophies are about the same — both defense-based strategies. </p><p>“It's going to come down to who wants it more,” Hogg said. “But I believe Alabama will pull out the victory.”</p><p>Many fans have been reliving the '73 game in their mind, secretly wondering if history will repeat itself. While not a superstitious person, 64-year-old Huntsville resident Tommy Ray said he worries about the “luck of the Irish.” </p><p>“You never take anything for granted with them. Sometimes the ball just tends to bounce the right way for them. It just falls in their hand,” he said. “Of course, the best way to take care of that is to take control of the ball.”</p><p>Alabama has a few things playing in its favor, Ray said, including the team's speed and versatility, as well as this being the third time in four years the Crimson Tide has played in the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game. </p><p>“If Alabama plays with the same intensity they did against LSU last year ... it would take a lot of mistakes on our part for Notre Dame to win,” he said. “If we run the ball the way I know we can, there's no way Notre Dame can come ahead.”</p><p>Debbie Turpin, 58, had one thing to say about her expectations for the game: “Roll Tide.”</p><p>“(Nick) Saban is a fantastic coach, and he's going to pull something out to win,” said the Tuscaloosa resident. “Everybody I see is pumped for this game. It's going to be even bigger than the Rose Bowl.”</p><p>In addition to “putting the ghosts to rest,” a win Monday night would mean back-to-back championships, an impressive feat in itself. Even some who are not Alabama fans are still hoping for an Alabama victory. </p><p>“I'm Mississippi State all the way,” said 27-year-old Starkville, Miss., resident Brittany Wright. “But I'm also for the SEC. If (an Alabama win) brings recognition to the SEC, I'm all for it.”</p><p> </p><p>Reach Kim Eaton at kim.eaton@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0209.</p>